Lama Zopa Rinpoche

KOPAN MONASTERY

THE MEDITATION COURSE (continued)

It is in Kopan that the realizations come to me. I think of my home in Malaysia, a home that is awash with love and warmth.

I have a garden that is perpetually in full bloom, a family that reflects the ongoing summer of my days. I have a life blessed with many good things, surrounded with so much good energy ... I realize I have such a precious life.

In Kopan I learn about karma, and understand that my good life is the manifestation of good karma. Indeed my very existence as a human being is the result of good karma. I could well have been born in the animal realm, or in the hell realms, unable to do all the things that as a human I can do. I am not just a human but also one who has the leisure time and the livelihood to practice the holy Dharma and pursue Enlightenment. I realize I should not waste my good life. I should use my life wisely, use it to do as much good as possible, use it to help others. In Kopan, my teacher makes me see that the only thing that is certain about my life is that I am sure to die one day, and upon my death from this life everything – my body, my family and my material possessions would become meaningless. Only my soul consciousness would continue to define me.

The teachings at Kopan were powerful stuff and I could not understand all the profound truths my teacher was teaching me. But Rinpoche is so kind. He often told us, the students, and there must have been over two hundred of us. Rinpoche told us that simply sitting and listening to teachings created such good merit because, he said, the teachings would leave an imprint which would never be lost for the imprint would remain way beyond this life and we would take it with us into our future lives as well.

In Kopan it is easy to feel on top of the world. I remember how I was imbued with the so glad to be alive feeling. In the distance behind us I could see the Himalayas. Nearby were prayer flags, with printed mantras fluttering in the gentle morning breeze. Below us in a special clearing that faces the Katmandu valley, the nine stupas of the monastery are bathed in golden morning light.

Each day, in accordance with Buddhist tradition, we walk round these stupas, mainly for accumulating merit but also for exercise. It is said that circumambulating around this holy object helps one to accumulate so much merit that it will help one ensure a good human rebirth in all of one’s future lifetimes.

Since the magic of Kopan, I have delved deeper into the meaning of life. I have pursued my lama whom I call Rinpoche from one part of the world to another. Rinpoche means Precious and in the Tibetan Buddhist tradition, Rinpoche is an honorific accorded to reincarnated high lamas. We believe that our lamas are highly realized beings, who have reincarnated onto earth specially to continue teaching us along the path to Enlightenment. Hence they are so precious to us.

One of my youngest friends at Kopan – everybody’s darling - is also a Rinpoche. My young friend is the reincarnation of the Cheruk Lama, a famous lama from the Solu Khumbu region of the Himalayas. After you meet this young lama who speaks and behaves like a very old soul, and has a delightful sense of humour, it becomes immediately natural to believe in reincarnation. He recognizes many of his "old" friends from his previous lifetime.

Today, the month long Lam Rim Meditation Course at Kopan continues to be held each year. And Rinpoche continues to teach at this course every year. Those wanting to attend these Meditation courses should click here.

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